Jackie Cooper - Jackie Cooper Superman Actor Dies Aged 88

At the age of nine, Cooper became the youngest actor to be nominated for a 'Best Actor' Oscar, for the 1931 movie 'Skippy. In one of the movie's scenes where Cooper was required to cry, director Norman Taurog pretended to have the dog shot off set, a ploy that worked. The actor's 1981 autobiography was titled 'Please Don't Shoot My Dog'. Cooper served in the US Navy during World War II and returned to find that his film career had begun to deteriorate, leading him to head to New York to find work on the stage. After appearing in several Broadway plays, Cooper returned to the big screen after landing the role of 'Daily Planet' editor 'Perry White' in four of Christopher Reeve's Superman movies. He went on to have successful career as a film director and television producer.

Jackie Cooper, born 'John Cooper' in Los Angeles in 1922, was married three times and had four children. He is survived by his two sons.